Haiya confirms re-election bid

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya has hit the ground running in a bid for a second term.

The FAM boss, whose tenure expires in December next year, on Saturday met nine Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) executive committee members to seek its support and endorsement.

A member of the SRFA confirmed in an interview on Thursday having met the FAM boss at Aro Lodge in Thyolo.

Said the official: “The FAM president said he came to appreciate our operations and how we have handled sponsors.

Haiya: I have publicly declared my interest.

“He also explained to us what he has achieved and his plans going forward.

“Then he announced his intention to seek re-election because, according to him, he has not completed his football transformation agenda and that he was seeking the endorsement of the SRFA.”

The official said in his presentation, Haiya said he was aware that (FDH Bank premiership side Ekhaya FC owner) William Mpinganjira’s name had been thrown into fray.

Said the official: “But he [Haiya] said while Mpinganjira might have more money, he is not experienced enough in football administration compared to him [Haya] and that he is firm on the ground.

“We appreciated his presentation and achievements so far, but we told him that we have not reached the stage of endorsement yet as there is still more time.

“We also made it known to him that it had taken him so long to reach out to us and that he hardly attends our activities in contrast to other regional associations.”

In response to a questionnaire on the matter on Thursday, the FAM president did not touch on the issue of Mpinganjira and seeking the SRFA’s support and endorsement, but said: “I have publicly declared my interest to contest in the December 2027 elections.

“You may wish to refer to the recent press briefing I conducted on the matter.”

Mpinganjira was not available for comment.

Haiya was ushered in as FAM president in December 2023 after beating his predecessor Walter Nyamilandu Manda by 23 votes against 13 in Mzuzu to end his 19-year reign.

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